Wire-stretcher.



S. B. ELDER.

WIRE STRBTCHER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 26, 1909.

950,098. Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

INVENTOR fiat/7w Z5 Eldkft I n c amnw a GRAHAM c0 PHoTo-LmwGRAPnER ,wAsmNamN UNI SAMUEL B. ELDER, OF IVARSAW, OHIO.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

Application filed May 26, 1909. Serial No. 488,449.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. ELDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Warsaw, in the county of Coshocton and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in JVire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wire fence stretchers and more particularly to an adjustable clamp to be employed therewith.

It is the object of this invention to provide a clamp normally carried by one of the engaging bars which will not fall out when not in use, yet which can be easily removed when the occasion arises.

WVhile the preferred form of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawing, yet it is to be understood that minor detail changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof.

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section illustrating the adjustable clamp as applied to the engaging bars. Fig. 2 is a front elevation with a part of the outward engaging bar broken away.

These two bars 1 and 2 adapted to secure the strands of wire forming the fence are preferably of wood, but may be of any other material. A series of adjustable clamps 3, 3 and 3 preferably three, are carried by one of the bars. Each bar is provided with corresponding longitudinal slots 4 and 4 to accommodate each adjustable clamp. Each slot 4 in the clamp carrying bar 1 is provided at one end thereof with an enlarged passage 5, and each side of the slot on the inner surface is cut away or grooved as illus trated by numeral 6 on Figs. 1 and 2. The adjustable clamp comprises a central portion 7 extending through the slot 4 in the bar 1 and an arm extending on each side to engage the outer side of the said bar. The inner end 8 of the central member 7 is enlarged to engage the grooves 6 on each side of the slot 4. A bolt 9 is rotatably mounted in the center projection 7 having an elongated head 10 on one side and a screw threaded portion upon the opposite end. The elongated bolt head 10 is adapted to pass through the longitudinal slot 4 in bar 2 and when turned at right angles thereto will engage the outer side thereof. A screw threaded nut 11 is carried upon the screw threaded portion of the bolt and may be provided with a handle 12 whereby power may be applied.

The operation of this adjustable clamp is as follows. The central section 7 of the clamp is inserted through the enlarged portion 5 of the slot 4 of the clamp carrying bar 1, the bolt 9 is inserted through the central projection and the nut placed thereon. The elongated bolt heads are arranged parallel with the slots and the two bars 1 and 2 are placed on opposite sides of the strands forming the fence, the bolt 9 passing through the corresponding slot 4 in bar 2. The bolt heads are then turned at rightangles to the slot and the bolt is withdrawn within the clamping member by applying power to the nut. By this means the pressure is positively and evenly distributed and will not disfigure the wire of the fence. In disengaging the bars 1 and 2 from the fence it is only necessary to loosen the bolt and turn the head parallel with the slot to separate the bars. In the separated position the clamps will be held in engagement with bar 1 by the enlarged head 8 on the central member 7 engaging in the groove 6 in the'slot and the clamps can only be detached by the removal of the bolt 9.

What I claim is 1. In a wire fence stretcher, a pair of correspondingly slotted bars, and a plurality of adjustable clamping members detachably locked in each slot of one bar.

2. In a wire fence stretcher of the character described, a pair of bars provided with a plurality of corresponding slots, the longitudinal inner edges of each slot upon one bar provided with grooves and an adjustable clamp provided with a member passing through the slot and detachably locked in said groove.

3. In a wire fence stretcher of the character described, a pair of bars provided with a plurality of corresponding slots, each slot on one bar provided on the inner edges thereof with grooves, adjustable clamps provided with a central portion adapted to pass through the slots and engage in said grooves, said clamps provided with arms engaging the outer surface of the bar and means for removing the central portions from engagement with the grooved portion of the slots.

4. In a wire fence stretcher of the character described, two bars provided with a plurality of corresponding slots, a clamp pt d to eng g t e o t r urface oi one bar and provided With a central portion extending through one of the slots a groove provided on each side of the inner surface 5 of each slot on said bar and an enlarged head upon the central portlon of the clamp adapted to normally engage said groove, a cutaway portion at one end of the slot corresponding in size to the enlargedportion of the central section, and a clamping bolt 10 provided with an elongated head carried by each clamp.

SAMUEL B. ELDER.

Witnesses:

J A5, L. MCDOWELL, CLARENCE F. BROWN. 

